2012 Maybach 57

The 2012 Maybach 57 is available in two trim levels that include the base 57 and 57 S models. There is also an extended wheelbase version of the sedan known as the Maybach 62 and 62 S. You get a separate review for the Maybach 62. The price for the base Maybach 57 starts at an MSRP of $379,050 and the Maybach 57 S costs a hefty $414,750. Even the base trim gets all the features that you get in the 57 S trim. The major difference lies in the engine under the hood of both these cars as the 57 S gets a more powerful engine and some other changes to leverage that extra power. 

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The base trim of the 2012 Maybach 57 makes good sense for most buyers as it has enough performance for the car. It gets a decent performance for the segment as the Maybach 57 is not a performance sedan. The features for comfort and convenience remain the same for both trim levels. The Maybach 57 S is for those who want a slightly better performance and bigger wheels. There are plenty of customization options available with both trim levels and it depends on your budget and choice that how you want to customize your car. 

The 2012 Maybach 57 is not known for its excellent fuel economy figures and there is nothing in the car that sets your expectations high in terms of fuel efficiency either. The size of the engine or the heavy weight of the car are two good reasons for the lower fuel efficiency figures offered by the Maybach 57. The 2012 Maybach 57 manages to return a decent fuel economy figure of 10 mpg in the city, 16 mpg on the highway, and 12 mpg of fuel economy in combined driving situations. The biggest strength remains the massive fuel tank capacity of 29.1 gallons which helps the Maybach 57 deliver an impressive maximum driving range of 466 miles on a full tank. 

The Maybach 57 returns the least fuel economy figures in the competition which is evident considering it is the heaviest car in the competition. But it compensates for that pretty well with the largest fuel tank capacity in the competition. However, the Rolls Royce Phantom manages to deliver the best driving range in the competition. It gets a significantly smaller fuel tank capacity when you compare it to the Maybach 57. But it returns a significantly better fuel economy figure too. The Bently Mulsanne gets a slightly smaller fuel tank capacity compared to the Phantom and returns similar fuel economy figures. 

The Maybach 57 comes with a functional cabin that gets all the important amenities to ensure a comfortable drive. However, one area where the Maybach 57 lacks behind its competitors is the timeless design that the rivals offer. The controls in the front row feel quite outdated which takes away from the feeling of being in such an expensive car. Even the controls for the driver do not offer the premium feeling like the rivals. But when you move to the rear seats, it gets quite a comfortable cabin with reclining seats that offer good support. You can adjust the seats using electronic controls quite easily. You can get the optional three-place bench seats at the back but the two-seater option with a center console acting as the partition is a better choice considering it offers better comfort. 

The Rolls Royce Phantom is known for its timeless interior quality. It does not get many electronic controls to ensure that it does not feel outdated even a few decades from now. It is known for its classic and sophisticated cabin and offers the best space in the class for rear-seat passengers. The Rolls Royce Phantom gets quite decent space in the cargo area too. The Bentley Mulsanne also comes with quite a luxurious cabin and feels quite sophisticated from the inside. It offers the least cargo area in the competition but is close to the Rolls Royce Phantom. The Maybach 57 also offers spacious rear seats and also offers the best cargo area in the competition. 

Standout interior features:

• Heated seats in front and rear
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Fully reclining power rear seats
• Folding rear picnic tables
• Front-seat memory settings
• Active air filtration

2012 Maybach 57 Infotainment 

The biggest focus for the buyers of the Maybach 57 remains the rear seats and that is evident in the infotainment system of the car too. Although it gets an infotainment screen in the front row of the car too, it is good for some basic cabin controls only. It is quite outdated and you do not get many entertainment options. But there is good news for the rear seat passengers as it gets two individual screens for the entertainment of the rear seat passengers. It gets two screens of 9.5 inches each and you also get two headsets for both passengers. You can use the 21-speaker Bose surround sound audio system for the times when you wish to enjoy the music.

Standout infotainment features:

• Two 9.5-inches screens 
• Auxiliary audio jack
• Console-mounted six-CD changer
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Satellite Radio
• 21-speaker Bose surround audio system

The exterior styling of the 2012 Maybach 57 is nothing new and those who have seen the previous generation of the Mercedes S-Class will recognize it instantly. It is based on a modified version of the same platform. But you can differentiate it when you look at the long wheelbase of the car and some other differences in the exterior styling. It gets a twin-headlight design in the front with a similar front grille which looks quite basic compared to its rivals. The sophistication is also lacking in the exterior design of the car. The rear styling of the car might not look appealing to some people. Otherwise, it does not look bad either. It depends on your personal preference if you like the overall style of the Maybach 57 or not but the rivals look more appealing for sure. 

The Rolls Royce Phantom is the longest, widest, and highest car in the competition. It also comes with the longest wheelbase in the competition which makes it bigger than the rivals in every dimension. The Maybach 57 takes the second spot in terms of overall length, width, and height. The wheelbase is also the second longest in the competition. However, the Maybach 57 is the heaviest car in the competition by a significant margin. The Bentley Mulsanne comes last in terms of the overall dimension of the car. It is the shortest car in terms of overall length and wheelbase too. 

Standout exterior features:

• 19-inch wheels
• Bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlamps
• Auto-leveling headlamps
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power rear sunshades
• Auto-dimming, power, heated side-view mirrors

The Maybach 57 is more luxurious than even the cars that are known to be the flagships from luxury brands. Based on the modified platform of the Mercedes S-Class, you can expect the same strength and build quality. But similar to other luxury vehicles, it does not get tested for its safety ratings by agencies like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Talking about the standard safety features that the Maybach 57 offers, it is quite an impressive list for the class. It also gets some of the standard driver assistance technologies. It gets safety features like antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, a rearview camera, and parking sensors for the front and rear. 

Safety features include:

• Daytime running lights
• Four-wheel antilock brakes with traction control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Front and rear side-impact airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Electronic stability system

2012 Maybach 57 vs. 2012 Rolls Royce Phantom

The Rolls Royce Phantom does not need an introduction among the buyers of luxury cars. It has a great aspirational value around the globe and even people who can not own a Phantom keep great respect for the car. The Rolls Royce Phantom follows a more classic and sophisticated design both in the interior and exterior of the car. The Maybach 57 is slightly quicker than the Rolls Royce Phantom but it does not make any difference anyway. The Maybach 57 already looks quite outdated but on the contrary, the Rolls Royce Phantom will not feel outdated a few decades down the line. For most buyers, the 2012 Rolls Royce Phantom comes out as a better choice but your opinion might be different. 

2012 Maybach 57 vs. 2012 Bentley Mulsanne

The British automakers are completely dominating the segment of ultra-luxury sedans. The Bentley Mulsanne is another great option from a British automaker that feels more classic and luxurious compared to the Maybach 57. The performance of the Bentley Mulsanne is also slightly better than the Maybach 57 for those who are looking for that extra performance. The Bentley Mulsanne is a slightly compact car that affects the space inside the cabin. But it does not feel cramped in any way. The Maybach 57 on the other hand feels more spacious in the rear seats for sure. It also gets more amenities for the rear seat passengers. The choice boils down to your personal choice. 

The 2012 Maybach 57 is not a usual choice in the competition for sure. It faces tough competition from its rivals as it offers a better value and a better aspirational value which matters to buyers in the segment. Still, the Maybach 57 is a great choice for those who only care about the rear-seat experience. It also does pretty well on other aspects like performance and effortless driving experience. But they are certainly not the strength of the Maybach 57 as rivals also offer that with some added advantages. The power-adjustable reclining rear seats offer multiple adjustment options to get a comfortable seating position. It is designed to offer the best support and comfort to you. There are also some added amenities in the rear seats like individual screens for each passenger at the rear for entertainment purposes. If all these things look appealing to you, you can consider buying the 2012 Maybach 57.